Residents and business owners will have a say in continuing restoration efforts along the Alameda Avenue historic corridor and its surrounding areas.

A public meeting will take place today to discuss and review revitalization initiatives.

Jorge Acosta, co-chair of the Alameda Historic Corridor Project (formally known as the Alameda Revitalization Workgroup), said that for the past three months, members have been working on plans to address issues that affect the corridor's residents and businesses. They will present their work at today's meeting.

Acosta encouraged people to attend the meeting and become part of the group.

Revitalization efforts started last year when Alameda Avenue, or State Highway 20, became the first historic road in the El Paso area.

In October, the Alameda Historic Corridor Project group -- founded by state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez -- had its initial meeting.

Acosta said so far, the group's work has been extremely positive. He said people have been receptive to the overall vision for the Alameda Historic Corridor Project.

Acosta did not want to go into detail about the project because ideas will be revealed at today's meeting.

"I would say that it is a good foundation for the betterment of the Alameda corridor and the betterment of the city of El Paso," Acosta said.

In another event, officials with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Empowerment Zone, the Small Business Administration, and ACCION Texas will give small-business owners an overview of their services at a workshop next week.

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The workshop is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Pavo Real Recreation Center on Alameda.

The small-business outreach session is sponsored by Gonzalez's office. Gonzalez represents the Lower Valley within El Paso's city limits and small sections of the Central and East Side areas.

Gonzalez said the workshop will help business owners be more informed about how they can grow their businesses instead of feeling overwhelmed by the current economic environment.

Small-business owners will learn how to qualify for small business loans, and how to acquire minority-owned business certification, she said.

Gonzalez said the certification helps small businesses obtain contracts with either private companies or government agencies.

The idea is to make businesses along the district grow, especially those along Alameda and on North Loop, Gonzalez said.

"Because if they are doing well, then that means that the community is going to do well," she said. "And hopefully they are able to employ more people."

Gonzalez expects the workshop to provide solutions and answer questions which many small-business owners may have.

The workshop is independent of the Alameda Historic Corridor Project. However, she said business owners are welcome to be a part of it.

Adrian Madrigal, a spokesman for the Small Business Administration office in El Paso, said the business sector is an important part of the Alameda revitalization project.

The Alameda corridor is an underserved market area, Madrigal said. Businesses in the area need support to grow successfully.